Community Spotlight: SBEP Leads Restoration Project at Oscar Scherer State Park

SARASOTA – The Sarasota Bay Estuary Program completed a project at Oscar Scherer State Park that restored 10 acres of freshwater wetland habitat. The results will help protect water quality and quantity in the park and restore and maintain hydrology. Another goal is to maintain, improve or restore imperiled species populations and habitats.

 

One project created a littoral shelf around Lake Osprey (adjacent to the Nature Center) for habitat value and conservation education. Another project restored an existing, isolated wetland that will be restored through hydrologic restoration and habitat creation. The final project restored littoral features surrounding Big Lake, including the eradication of a massive cattail infestation.

 

Project partners that joined SBEP included Oscar Scherer State Park, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Scheda Ecological Associates, Tampa Contracting Services, Inc. Funding is being provided by the Southwest Florida Water Management District.